reviewsbyerin

She has no choice. Cassie Kendrick can't marry the man her alcoholic father has picked for her. After years of suffering under her father's hand, she's not going to be passed off to someone just like him. Donning an old pair of her father's clothes and chopping off her hair, Cassie runs away to join the Second Michigan Volunteer Infantry, posing as a boy and taking the name Thomas Turner.

Photographer Gabriel Avery wants more than the tenement slum upbringing he's known. The beginning of The War Between The States opens a door of opportunity for him, and he signs on to photograph the battles. Perhaps he can make a name for himself. He soon finds himself following the Second Michigan as they move from place to place.

Cassie, a.k.a. Thomas, is making a name as a marksman, substitute nurse, and spy. She keeps her head down and does her duty, making few friends and giving no one the opportunity to uncover her identity.

This Civil War novel brings the grittiness of the era into full focus. I wouldn't recommend reading it if gory details bother you, though they aren't as prevalent as they could have been. The author clearly did her research on different battles and social issues of the day.

I felt the first half of the novel was strong, but it dragged a bit in the second half. I understand the pacing needed to fit the actual historical timeline, but also the characters seemed to stare at the same issues without making forward progress until some sudden revelations at the end. The book also contained some tropes that I don't like, though I realize that is strictly personal preference. The portrayal of the confederates and the freed slaves seemed a little problematic as well.

Overall, if you enjoy historical fiction or stories or capable women shining in a male-dominated world, I believe you would enjoy Where Dandelions Bloom.